Abstract: Cargo wagon to transport bulk material in different conditions which allows the load not to attach itself to the surface of the wagon, speeding up the unloading process, wherein said cargo wagon is formed by a defined structure which vertebral frame is conformed by a longitudinal beam, where in a transversal way to such beam ribs have been configured in a semi-rectangular shape which give the volume configuration to the wagon's load; in the Terminal ends of such ribs there are lateral beams that give firmness to the structures that define the ribs; said lateral beams have on their interior end steel plates along their whole longitude that conform an upper lateral end of the wagon; where in said steel plates and in suspended form there are a series of ropes over which there is rubber carpet in suspended form that defines the structure to receive the load.

Abstract: A livestock unloading system for unloading livestock from a storage unit of a transport vehicle to a processing plant or storage facility. The unloading system includes a conveyor system whereby livestock ride from the storage unit to their destination. The conveying system includes a telescoping end that extends into and retracts from a coop during the unloading process. A truck positioner positions the transport vehicle for the proper unloading process.

Abstract: A ramp member is pivotally supported at the rear of a flat bed trailer for pivotal movement between a loading position extending from the flat bed to the ground and a storage position supported on the trailer bed, through an intermediate position between the loading position and the storage position. First and second torsion members are arranged such that at least one of the torsion members biases the ramp member from each of the loading and storage positions towards the intermediate position. The torsion members permit substantially a full weight of the ramp member to be counter-balanced through its full range of motion so that a single ramp member spanning a full width of a rear end of the trailer in the lateral direction can be manually displaced by a single operator.

Abstract: Generally, a method of determining a position of a robot is provided. In one embodiment, a method of determining a position of a robot comprises acquiring a first set of positional metrics, acquiring a second set of positional metrics and resolving the position of the robot due to thermal expansion using the first set and the second set of positional metrics. Acquiring the first and second set of positional metrics may occur at the same location within a processing system, or may occur at different locations. For example, in another embodiment, the method may comprise acquiring a first set of positional metrics at a first location proximate a processing chamber and acquiring a second set of positional metrics in another location. In another embodiment, substrate center information is corrected using the determined position of the robot.

Abstract: In the conventional air cargo transportation system, the transportation of the cargo that is stored inside of the airport terminal building, to the area of the loading/unloading door is normally performed using the package/cargo carts. However, numerous workers were needed to load the cargo and drive the carts, which is very labor intensive and entails high manpower costs. The conventional system is also dangerous as they move along the complex tarmac markings.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for rapidly loading vehicles or other load carrying compartments has an extensible conveyor attached to a base frame by means of a wheel and track design. The load may be applied to the extensible conveyor from any direction by a variety of means. Items are applied to the extensible conveyor until the load is substantially equivalent to the maximum load capacity of the load carrying compartment. The conveyor is then extended into the compartment and retracted. As it retracts, the load remains within the compartment. The device preferably has a number of safety features to avoid accidents.

Abstract: A livestock unloading system for unloading livestock from a storage unit of a transport vehicle to a processing plant or storage facility. The unloading system includes a conveyor system whereby livestock ride from the storage unit to their destination. The conveying system includes a telescoping end that extends into and retracts from a coop during the unloading process. A system of hydraulics controls the speed of the conveyor, aids in the leveling of the machine, adjusts both the angle and tier of unloading, and levels and controls the telescoping end of the apparatus.

Abstract: An assembly system and method thereof for manufacturing an outdoor unit of a dual-unit type air conditioner employs an assembly system in which the outdoor unit is assembled, a refrigerant charging section in which the assembled outdoor unit is charged with a refrigerant, a testing section in which the outdoor unit charged with the refrigerant is tested, and a packaging section in which the outdoor unit after passing the test in the testing section is packaged and forwarded. The outdoor unit is carried on a mobile cart through the assembly section, the refrigerant charging section, and the testing section.

Abstract: A slide extends from an upper level platform to a lower level. The slide includes a bed with a smooth top surface and side frames that project upwardly from the bed. The bed is a sheet having upraised lips along its side edges. The lips are received by first channels in the side frames. Crossbars extend transversely beneath the bed, with the ends of the crossbars being received by second channels in the side frames. A groove is formed in the top surface of the bed, which groove receives a line. The line is coupled to a motor and to a carrier located on the slide, wherein the carrier traverses up and down the slide. Objects can be raised and lowered between the two levels using the carrier. Alternatively, objects can be allowed to slide down the bed.

Abstract: An improved method and apparatus for emptying a load of turkeys from multilayer containers is disclosed. Each container or coop includes a liftable gate that enables access into the container and a slidably moveable push member that may also comprise the back wall of the container. The push member is moved from the rear of the container and toward the access port thereof. As the push member moves and engages turkeys in the coop, the turkeys are moved by the push member across the container floor and out of the access port onto a series of conveyors. The push members of a plurality of coops can be interconnected to simultaneously unload a plurality of containers. The mechanisms for moving the push member may be mounted externally of the coop structure. The same mechanism may also be used for returning the push member to and for locking it in its initial transport position.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for emptying a load of multilayer container columns is disclosed. A carriage is aligned in an unloading position relative to a container. The carriage includes a mechanism for opening a gate of the container, a mechanism for extending a container floor out of the container, and a mechanism for urging contents of the container carried by the floor off the floor and onto an unloading receptor when the floor is extended from the container.

Abstract: A conveyor coupled to a skid motor vehicle operates to unload bulk granular material from a railroad hopper car. The conveyor has an obtuse configured frame supporting an endless belt extended about an idler roller and a driven roller. A hydraulic motor mounted on the frame supplied with hydraulic fluid under pressure from the hydraulic system of the motor vehicle rotates the drive roller thereby moving the belt relative to the frame and mount thereon. A pair of transverse tubular box members are secured to the bottom of the frame to accommodate forks attached to the skid motor vehicle whereby the skid motor vehicle can lift the conveyor and transport it to another location.

Abstract: The apparatus and method of this invention safely and efficiently loads and unloads the contents of a load transport container. A manipulator mechanism such as a backhoe having a hemispherical spiked tool at the end of a manipulator arm is mounted on a telescoping conveyor belt system. Right hand and left hand 1/4 turn drive conveyors are used at the front end of the telescoping conveyor belt system to facilitate movement of cargo from the front end of the system to the discharge end. The main conveyor belt has a ribbed design.

Abstract: A rotating head frame and load ejector assembly having a pair of opposing and parallel rotating side arms which can rotate between a loading and dumping position is disclosed. The bottom ends of the side arms are pivotally attached to the side walls of the dump body so that the arms can rotate about a side pivot pin to form an arcuate path between the loading and dumping position. A transverse bar attached to the top end of the arms carries a load ejector so that when the arms are rotated to the dumping position, the load ejector dislodges the load from the bottom of the dump body. In order to prevent the head frame from damaging the dump body during its rotation along the arcuate path, means for controlling the rate of rotation of the head frame is provided. A hydraulic cylinder is pivotally attached to each rotating arm and the side wall of the dump body. As the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder slides within the piston chamber in response to the rotation of the side arms, internal chambers are formed.

Abstract: A device to facilitate the luggages' loading into and the unloading out of aircraft holds consisting of a movable truck which is located in the aircraft hold and receives in succession from the conventional belt elevator the luggages or packages to be conveyed to the operators within the aircraft hold, whereupon the movable truck is returned to the starting point to receive another luggage and so on until the loading operation is completed. The luggages' unloading operation is performed in the reverse direction.

Abstract: A boom conveyor including a cantilevered conveyor section having an operator's platform at its outer free end is disclosed. The conveyor section is mounted so that in use the outer free end is movable in a vertical plane between predetermined limits. A scissor support is disposed at or adjacent the outer free end and is passively extended by the raising of the free end of the conveyor to provide continual support to the platform. A release valve enables retraction of the support when the free end is lowered.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for truck loading using a conveyor to advance a load into a truck backed-up to a loading dock. A special sheet or belt is laid over the bed of the truck and anchored at the edge adjacent the rear end of the truck bed. The sheet has special frictional characteristics. The load is pushed into the truck over the special sheet, the load in the truck is held in position and the special sheet is freed of the anchors and is slipped out from between the load and the truck bed.

Abstract: A method of transporting bagged cargo is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of placing elongated bags on a strap with the transverse midline of each bag aligned on or over the strap. The strap is then fastened around the sides and over the top of the bags, therefore forming a matrix. The matrix is lifted by applying an upward and inward lifting force to the straps which contain the matrix, therefore unitizing the bags. In preferred embodiments, the height of the matrix is greater than or equal to 0.7 times the width of the matrix. In other embodiments, an intermediate cross strap is provided to unitize the bottom half of the matrix separately from the top half. The resulting method permits a great number of bags to be efficiently transported to transshipment points with greatly reduced manpower and at reduced cost.

Abstract: A wheel supported open top receptacle such as a railway car is provided with a liner arrangement comprising a plurality of belt members arranged between the end walls of the car with the sides of adjacent ones of the belts overlapped in the direction between the end walls, and with each belt overlying the side walls and bottom wall of the car. One end of each belt member is attached to the upper end of the corresponding one of the side walls and, by upward displacement of the other end, each belt is adapted to be displaced upwardly relative to the car. Material in the car is progressively unloaded laterally outwardly of the car by sequential displacement of the belts in accordance with the pattern of overlap.

Abstract: An open-topped container is constructed with a plurality of compartments, each having its own discharge opening and each having its own liner of the type that can be selectively rolled up or unrolled according to loading and unloading operations. Each liner is connected to its own biasing means which is effective to yield and lower the liner as the compartment is loaded and effective to recover to elevate the liner to facilitate unloading, all for the purpose of handling material, such as fruits and vegetables and the like, in such a way as to eliminate or at least minimize damage thereto.